The England defender is close to entering the last year of his contract with the FA Cup finalists and has yet to fix up a new deal.

Lescott told the Telegraph: "I can't afford to go into a World Cup year being uncertain of whether I'm going to play [regularly] here.

"I feel I've done enough for the club to demand a bit of respect in terms of they come and tell me what they want, whether it's a new deal, which I would be delighted to sign, or [to go] elsewhere.

"I'm very respectful of the club with what they've done for me, how they were persistent when Everton were digging their heels in to keep me. I owe a lot to the club. I also feel I've done enough to demand a bit of respect to not see speculation about my future."